Local Preschoolers Celebrate Earth Day

Getting ready for a nationally celebrated day of environmental preservation takes a lot of hard work and studying.

"I read a book with my dad about Earth Day!” explains an excited Abigail Rayburn who is learning about Earth Day.

And when Earth Day rolls around, it means plenty of manual labor for some Balfour pre-kindergartners. Not that they mind!

"Planting trees is fun!" says Logan Covington.

Several area businesses donated trees for these students to plant, and Wal-Mart made a $500 grant towards the beautification of Balfour's campus. The rest of the work was up to the kids and their teachers.

"We've been cleaning up our campus as far as picking up trash, and making it beautiful and also weeding our beds. We have our own classroom plot,” comments Balfour Preschool teacher Chrissy Wheeler.

Now their responsibilities have expanded to seven more saplings.

"How are you going to take car of this tree? By watering it every day!" adds Chelsea Jones.

Earth Day may come around only once in the spring, but these students say they'll be happy to practice environmental protection all year round.

Across the country, Wal-Mart has donated nearly $2 million this year in Earth Day grants for schools and conservation groups.

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Earth Day's Beginnings

On April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans took to the streets, parks, and auditoriums to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment.

Thousands of colleges and universities organized protests against the deterioration of the environment.

Earth Day 1970 achieved a rare political alignment, enlisting support from Republicans and Democrats, rich and poor, city slickers and farmers, tycoons and labor leaders.

The first Earth Day led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species acts.

Sen. Gaylord Nelson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom -- the highest honor given to civilians in the United States -- for his role as Earth Day founder.

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